A brief report from the European Commission authored by Pedro Velasco Martins (an EU negotiator) on the most recent round of ACTA negotiations in Guadalajara, Mexico has leaked, providing new information on the substance of the talks, how countries are addressing the transparency concerns, and plans for future negotiations. The document notes that the Mexico talks were a "long meeting with detailed technical discussions, which allowed progress, but parties not yet ready for major concessions. Due to lack of time, internet discussions could not be concluded."

Start first with plans for future talks. Round 8 of the ACTA negotiations, which will be held in Wellington, New Zealand, are apparently now scheduled for April 12 to 16th. Countries plan a five-day round - the longest yet - with detailed discussions on the Internet provisions, civil enforcement, border measures, and penal provisions. Moreover, Round 9 will take place in Geneva, possibly during the week of June 7th. This aggressive negotiation schedule - three rounds of talks in six months - points to the pressure to conclude ACTA in 2010.

Secondly, transparency. The leaked document reveals that the summary document on ACTA is currently being updated by Canada and Switzerland, with release likely in March. The new document will deny rumours about iPod searching border guards and mandatory three strikes policies. There is no agreement about releasing the ACTA text, however (though more European Union members states favour its release). New Zealand is considering a stakeholder meeting during the next round in April as part of the transparency effort.

Third, the substance of the talks. The three main areas of substantive discussion were civil enforcement, border measures (called customs by the EC), and the Internet provisions.

I would just be happy with world governments dropping this secrecy bullshit and just laying it out on the table for all to see. If it really is for the good of all then let us see, and judge that for ourselves.

Regarding Michael Geist as an OC; I personally think he’s more deserving than most, however given that the Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage is a permanent member of the OC Advisory Council, I doubt this recognition would be forthcoming any time soon.

@cymk that’s precisely what they don’t want… it’s like they’re using 1984 as a guidebook… use fear-mongering and doublespeak to fool the masses into thinking its for our own good.

The biggest problem is that most people don’t understand what is happening/going to happen because of the layers of deception practiced by all of our governments. The first being the deliberate misinformation and the second being the secrecy.

Shine a spot light on ACTA so that politicians will start to wonder if they are risking re-election. Talk about it…. The word needs to spread outward from the tech community. Tweet, Dent, Gwib, Facebook… Talk to people…. at the water cooler, karaoke night, the schoolboard meeting, the family barbeque…. wherever you go spread the word.

Good luck policing the internet you clowns. If you didn’t build it – good luck staying ahead of the people who did.

I hear the war on drugs worked wonders on the international narcotics trade.

ACTA’s bs is going to go down exactly the same: Spend billions, ruin hundreds of thousands of lives, end in abject failure.

If / When rediculous laws begin, so does the sabotage. A few cleverly planted data DVDs in the right places and some anon calls to the cops is going to make this game as painful for them as it is for us.